A call from God. A disobedient prophet. A great fish. A miraculous repentance. The biblical story of Jonah is familiar to pre-schoolers and adults alike. A powerful picture of God’s great love for the world, its simple yet powerful storyline captures attention and brings clear application to believers today.

This book qualifies as an expositional commentary since the author works his way through the book verse by verse explaining the meaning of the text. However, his focus is on application, which makes this a very helpful volume for the preacher. Wiersbe says it contains “rich veins of gold that others have ignored or neglected.” Exell was the compiler of the massive, multi-volume Biblical Illustrator and edited both The Pulpit Commentary and the Preacher’s Homiletical Commentary.

This work will repay the preacher many times over who reads it. Don’t miss Kirk’s two appendices at the end where he critiques the parabolic view of the book and argues for Jonah as an eighth-century prophet and author of the book that bears his name.

Martin, Hugh. The Prophet Jonah: His Character and Mission to Nineveh. London: Banner of Truth, 1958 reprint.

Martin was a Scottish preacher in the middle of the 19th century. An excellent devotional work. Spurgeon said of it: “No one who has it will need any other.”

Sermons

Hooper, John, “An Oversight and Deliberation upon The Holy Prophet Jonah; made and uttered before the King’s majesty, and his most honourable council, by John Hooper, in Lent last past: comprehended in seven sermons, A.D. 1550,” Writings of Dr. John Hooper, vol. 5 in the set, The British Reformers, pp. 83–192.

Special Studies

English translation of a Dutch work by a pulpit orator well-known in his day. During the German occupation of the Netherlands, Overduin spent time in four prisons and two concentration camps, including Dachau. He views Jonah as having a style and tone “of an extended, beautifully realized sermon.” Preachers looking for insight and help with descriptive language in a sermon will find plenty here!

Dr. Allen serves as a Professor of Preaching and Dean of the School of Theology. He has served as a senior pastor of two churches for 21 years, as well as several interim pastorates. He was recently elected as the new Dean of the new School of Preaching. Twitter: @DrDavidLAllen